With “Hot Mess,” Ava Valianti lights a match and tosses it directly onto the glossy surface of perfection culture—and watches the whole thing go up in glittery flames. The alt-pop-leaning single opens with crisp electronic textures that immediately jolt the listener into its attitude-drenched world, balancing modern pop brightness with gritty rock-inspired edges. The production is clean but charged, refusing excess while still hitting with full adrenaline. What stands out instantly is Valianti’s pure presence: she’s living it, breathing it, commanding it. The mix foregrounds her voice with confidence, giving every line the weight and personality needed to create a genuine empowerment anthem. Within seconds, you know you’re in for a track that doesn’t care whether you approve. And that’s exactly the point.
Lyrically, “Hot Mess” is a self-aware mirror held up to every person who’s ever felt like they’re failing at the curated perfection demanded by society. The song opens with a striking contrast between two archetypes: the flawless girl with a bow who wakes up early and keeps her life polished, versus Ava’s narrator—smudged makeup, late nights, messy emotions, and unapologetic realness. In this juxtaposition, Valianti exposes the hollowness beneath perfection. The other woman is “perfect but… alone,” while the narrator is “crazy but my friends have stayed.” The message lands sharply: chaos doesn’t equal loneliness, and perfection doesn’t equal happiness. Through sharp lyricism and a tone dripping in playful defiance, Valianti challenges the assumption that success requires spotless polish. She refuses to trade authenticity for image, even if it means missing steps along the way.
The chorus is a firebomb of self-acceptance wrapped in self-deprecating humour: “I’m a hot mess / and I know I’m missing every chance / to progress.” It’s brutally honest but also triumphant. The narrator isn’t pretending to be put together, nor is she begging for sympathy—she’s admitting flaws and then celebrating them. The standout line “Everything is better when you’re messier” crystallises the track’s core theme: imperfection is not just acceptable, but beautiful. Instead of punishing herself for chaos, she spins it into confidence, adrenaline, and joy. It subverts the narrative that identity must be optimised to be valuable. “Hot Mess” argues that vulnerability is power, that humour softens heaviness, and that trying to appear perfect is the real prison.
Musically, the song thrives in its restraint. Instead of exploding into a dramatic pop climax, Valianti leans into tight rhythmic motion and chant-like backing vocals that turn the song into a rallying cry. The rock influence gives the track grit, sharpening its edges and giving listeners something to shout along to, headlights down, windows open, eyeliner smeared from tears or sweat or both. The looping lyric hook matches the thematic idea of being stuck in emotional cycles. Rather than pretending those loops don’t exist, the song refuses to shame them. It’s the sonic equivalent of applying lipstick in a gas station bathroom while laughing at your own reflection—heartbroken, exhausted, defiant, alive.
Ultimately, “Hot Mess” succeeds because it isn’t interested in perfection. It’s interested in truth. It’s for everyone who’s felt like they’re lagging, falling apart, or taking hits while someone else’s life looks effortless. Instead of glamorising pain, Ava Valianti reframes it into resilience. The song insists that life’s best moments are often unscripted, disordered, a little sideways. Its message is simple but revolutionary in a culture obsessed with filters and flawless branding: real > perfect. So dance wildly, smudge your eyeliner, cry if you need to—then laugh, scream-sing the chorus, and remember that your humanity is not a flaw.
For more information, follow Ava Valianti:
Website – Soundcloud – YouTube – Bandcamp – Spotify – Facebook
